IE8 in Win XP Pro

[Cobra]

I installed IE8 with XP Pro and had continuous problems with popups telling me I needed to run an Active X control for Adobe Flash Player. I'd click on the bar, allow the popup and everything was fine until I changed sites, when the routine started over.

 

Uninstalling Flash Player with the Adobe uninstaller (after closing all open programs), rebooting, and reinstalling Flash Player did NOTHING to alleviate the nagging problem. Besides, after uninstalling IE8, my home page options are stuck halfway between IE7 and IE8 features. This problem would make the Pope cuss.

[RandyL]

Hi Cobra;

So now you are using IE7 but seem to still have some IE8 features. Can you explain a little more about that please.

 

Is there any chance you can do a System Restore to before you installed IE8?

 

Maybe Microsofts kb article 957700 How do I uninstall or remove Internet Explorer 8? can help.

 

Pay particular attention the the Alternative steps section.

[Cobra]

Actually, IE8 is still running according to: Help>About Internet Explorer. I had IE8 installed on 2 other computers and 'Add/Remove Programs' removed it (with no problem) because of experiencing the same problems with not being able to view webpages and a host of other bugs. This one computer is showing it's hindend and won't let it go. I tried the Alternative steps to remove IE8, and the process gets stalled at a popup that says to change what's in the popup window to: Windows NT Service Pack Uninstall Directory. I get lost right there.

 

If I use Revo Uninstaller to try and remove IE8, it gets stuck at the same place. Before you ask, I didn't install IE8 before SP3.

 

System Restore is out because I keep the archive on the small side and it only goes back ~6 days. IE8 was installed longer ago than that.

[RandyL]

I really have to wonder since you seem to have had problems with IE8 on 3 different computers.

 

What is the common denominatar?

 

Can you tell us a bit about all your computers that have had problems with IE8?

 

Make. models and number to start with.

 

What programs have you downloaded and installed on all three?

 

Do you have your original install disks for these computers and what does it say on them?

[Tootech]

Does Add/Remove Programs show IE7 or 8 installed?

 

If it shows IE7, make sure all toolbars are uninstalled and attempt an IE8 install.

 

If successful, reboot and run the Microsoft Fix It tool Randy linked you to. That will hopefully remove it correctly.

 

IE 8 download is here

 

Download details: Windows Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP

[Cobra]

A Google search turned up all kinds of bugs when IE8 is installed along with XP Pro. The worst of which are incompatability viewing sites configured for "older" browsers and CONSTANT requests to run Flash Player's ActiveX for the current site even though Flash Player is already an Add-On. There is a compatability button present beside the URL window when one of these "older" sites is encountered. Clicking on it might let me view the site and it might not. This is a list of my currently online computers:

 

1) q6700 @ 3.52GHz/XP Pro SP3/4GB G.Skill 1066 RAM @ 1100MHz: 5-5-5-15/2 x WD RE3 WD2502ABYS 250GB SATA in RAID 0/160GB slave drive/EVGA GTX 260/Corsair TX650W PSU/Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R @ 1760MHz FSB

 

2) e5300 @ 3.67GHz/XP Pro SP3/4GB G.Skill 1066 RAM @ 1069MHz: 5-5-5-15/WD WD3200AAJS 320GB/160GB slave drive/nVidia GeForce 8600 GTS SSC/Corsair TX650W PSU/Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R @ 1336 FSB

 

3) e2160 @ 2.93GHz/XP Pro SP3/2GB Corsair XMS2 1066 RAM @ 1098MHz: 5-5-5-15/Seagate ST3320620AS 320GB/80GB slave drive/nVidia GeForce 7300 GS/Corsair 400W PSU/Gigabyte GA-P35-S3G @ 1464 FSB

 

I have all the original XP install disks, and the same programs are installed on all 3 computers. Mind you, the computers worked fine BEFORE I made the mistake of installing IE8, and 2 of the 3 operate fine now, reverted back to IE7, and incurred no problem when uninstalling IE8. #3 computer is the one with the death grip on IE8.

[Cobra]

OK, I guess I have to make 2 moves to get a response. Add/Remove shows no sign of IE8, but clicking on Help>About Internet Explorer shows IE8 still running. I don't have to 'go clicking' to see that though. The look of my home page tells me IE8 is still alive and well.

[maynardvdm]

Try uninstalling it in safe mode.

[Cobra]

Try uninstalling it in safe mode.

 

I've already tried that and it failed.

[Tootech]

I've managed to mess up an XP Pro install with IE8 now - doesn't matter as its a VM and I'll rebuild it.

 

It wouldn't uninstall - in the same way you describe. I could reinstall IE8 over the top, but even then it wouldn't uninstall.

 

What I have found is that there is no uninstall string in the registry, no entry in Add/Remove and I can't find the uninstaller itself.

 

It runs, as you say, but I can't shift it.

 

Its pretty odd, and I have removed it from other XP systems successfully.

 

I'm done with it, no more IE8!!

[Plastic Nev]

Hi cobra,

just out of interest, considering you have the original XP disk for it, have you tried an XP repair?

Or if you have all your data backed up on the other two and can afford to try it, go for a complete reformat and re-install of XP.

I only suggest this because IE 5,6,7, and 8 are so tied into the operating system it could be some glitch in the OS files themselves.

Not only that, but whichever version of IE that came with the XP disk will be installed as if from new.

Of course the problem with that will be having to search for and reinstall all the drivers.

That is why I suggest a repair first, as this does actually reinstall the whole OS, but without losing data, and of course drivers.

[Cobra]

I've managed to mess up an XP Pro install with IE8 now - doesn't matter as its a VM and I'll rebuild it.

 

It wouldn't uninstall - in the same way you describe. I could reinstall IE8 over the top, but even then it wouldn't uninstall.

 

What I have found is that there is no uninstall string in the registry, no entry in Add/Remove and I can't find the uninstaller itself.

 

It runs, as you say, but I can't shift it.

 

Its pretty odd, and I have removed it from other XP systems successfully.

 

I'm done with it, no more IE8!!

 

Well said!! I wouldn't give you a plugged nickel for all the IE8 installations (in XP) on Earth. It's rumored to work very well in Win 7.

 

I've already decided to do a repair install, and when the updates are re-installing, I will say NO to the update that installs IE8. Just more *&^%$#@! from MicroStank. :D

 

I'm still more than puzzled that I removed IE8 from 2 computers with NO ill effects. Well, I don't understand half of what I know about pumcuters.............